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MANUAL 


FOR  THE 


MEMBERS 


OF  THE 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


IN 


/ 


^v^i-T^,v|Y,.,, 


i!K^VI^iV*)Va*^^»''^'-"      ^ 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  SESSIOIff. 


RICHMOND: 

PRINTED  AT  THE  WHIG  BOOK  AND  JOB  OFFICE,  GOVERNOR  STREET. 

1860, 


HISTORICAL  NOTICES. 


This  church  was  founded  by  the  venerable  Dr.  Sam'l 
B.  Wilson,  for  many  years  past  Professor  of  Theology 
in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Prince  Edward, 
Virginia.  He  came  to  Fredericksburg  in  the  year  1806, 
in  prosecution  of  his  labors  as  a  Missionary  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Board  of  Missions,  and  here  his  services  were 
found  so  acceptable  to  a  large  portion  of  the  community 
that  he  consented  to  settle  among  them  permanently  and 
attempt  to  gather  ji  church.  At  that  time  he  found  only 
three  Presbyterians  in  the  town,  but  his  faithful  labors 
were  blessed  to  such  a  degree  that  in  1808  a  church  was 
organized  with  fourteen  members.*  The  first  church 
edifice  was  erected,  in  1810,  upon  the  ground  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Female  Orphan  Asylum.  The  present 
church  was  erected  in  1833,  and  was  solemnly  dedicated 
to  God  on  Friday,  the  26th  of  July  in  that  year.  The 
services  were  conducted  by  the  Pastor,  assisted  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hill  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Post— Mr.  Post  preach- 

*  The  members  of  the  first  session  at  the  organization  of  the  church 
:rx  1808  were  John  Mark,  Andrew  Glassell  and  Elisha  Hall,  M.  D. 

The  original  fourteen  members  were,  according  to  the  present  (Feb- 
ruary, I860,)  recollection  of  Dr.  Wilson,  Messrs.  John  Mark,  Andrew 

Glassell,  Elisha  Hall,  M.  D.  and  James  Vass,  and  Mrs.  E.  Mark, 

Skelton,  E.  Henning, Rootes,  Sally  Carter,  Elizabeth  Wilson,  D. 

Walker,  Isabella  Roberts,  Anna  Patton  and  Judith  W.  Lewis. 

Two  of  the  great  grandsons  of  John  Mark,  the  first  Elder,  are  at  pre- 
sent students  in  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Prince  Edward,  Virginia, 
as  candidates  for  the  ministry. 


Jng  from  Haggai  ii.  9.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1825,  the 
Presbyter}^  of  Winchester  constituted  thirty-five  mem- 
bers of  the  Fredericksburg  church,  residing  in  Stafford 
county,  a  separate  church,  with  the  title  of  the  ^'  Yellow 
Chapel  Church,"  now  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Rev.  John  H.  Davis.  During  the  first  eighteen  years 
of  his  ministry  here,  Dr.  Wilson,  on  account  of  the 
feebleness  of  the  church,  labored  as  a  stated  supply, 
partly  supporting  himself,  and  greatly  extending  his 
usefulness  by  teaching  a  large  school.  On  the  29t]i 
of  October,  1824,  he  was,  in  compliance  with  the  una- 
nimous call  of  the  people,  installed  Pastor  of  the  church, 
the  Rev.  Conrad  Speece  preaching  the  sermon  from  Is. 
Iv.  10,  11,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Matthews,  D.D.,  preaching 
and  delivering  the  charge  to  the  pastor  and  people. 
During  the  whole  period  his  ministry  here  was  signally 
blessed,  precious  seals  being  granted  to  him  on  almost 
every  communion  season,  and  several  occasions  of  spe- 
cial revival,  the  most  remarkable  of  which  was  enjoyed 
during  1831,  when  eighty-eight  were  gathered  to  the 
fold.  The  whole  number  added  to  the  church  during 
his  ministry  was  four  hundred  and  seventy.  On  the 
17th  of  July,  1841,  Winchester  Presbytery  dissolved  the 
pastoral  relation  subsisting  between  Dr.  Wilson  and  this 
congregation,  and  he  departed  hence  to  fill  that  eminent 
station,  which  he  to  this  day,  thank  God,  lives  to  adorn, 
followed  by  the  love  and  gratitude  of  all  his  flock  and 
the  reverent  regard  of  the  entire  community. 

After  his  departure  for  Prince  Edward,  the  church 
was  principally  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Balch, 
of  Prince  William,  until  the  second  pastor,  the  Rev. 
George  Wilsox  McPkail,  D.D.,  previously  settled  in 
Buckingham,  assumed  charge  February,  1842,  Dr. 
McPhail  was  installed  June,  1842,  the  Rev.  Thomas 


B.  Balch  preaching  the  sermon,  and  the  Rev.  John  M. 
P.  Atkinson  presiding  and  deUvering  the  charge  to  the 
pastor  and  people.  During  his  faithful  ministry  here 
the  church  continued  to  be  greatly  favored  of  the  Lord, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-Jive  being  added  to  the  commu- 
nion. In  June,  1854,  he  resigned  this  charge^  and  de- 
parted, universally  respected  and  sincerely  regretted,  to 
assume  the  pastorate  of  the  Brainerd  Church,  Easton, 
Pennsylvania,  the  duties  of  which  he  still  continues  to 
discharge,  together  with  the  Presidency  of  Lafayette 
College. 

The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  A.  A.  Hodge,  who 
was  installed  November  15th,  1855,  the  Rev.  Moses  D. 
Hoge,  D.D.,  preaching  the  sermon  and  delivering  the 
charge  to  the  pastor  and  people.  The  total  number  of 
communicants  added  since  the  organization  of  the  church 
is  680. 

The  following  ministers  of  the  Gospel  were  once  mem- 
bers of  this  church:  Rev.  Francis  Thornton,  Rev.  Wm. 
H.  Foote,  D.O.,  Rev.  Robert  T.  Berry,  Rev.  Robert 
Caldwell,  Rev.  Samuel  B.  O.  Wilson,  Rev.  J.  Milton 
Henry,  Rev.  James  M.  Wilson,  Rev.  Charles  White. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  all  the  Elders  who  have 
ruled  in  this  clmrch  from  the  beginning.    Those  marked 

*  have  deceased: 
*JoHN  Mark,  '\ 

*  Andrew  Glassell,     >  Ordained  1808» 
*Elisha  Hall,  M.  D.  3 

*David  Henderson, 
*8amuel  H.  Skinker, 
^Benjamin  H.  Hall,  M.  D. 

*  Willi  AM  Hern  don, 
Alexander  Henderson, 

♦David  Grinnan, 


Date  of  ordination  not  re- 
collected. 


6 

*JoHN  P.  Little 


*JOHN  r.   J^ITTLE;      ") 

•William  Brooke,  ^Ordained  November  ISth,  1824- 

] 


Layton  Y.  Atkins. 
*WiLLiAM  H.  White,      ^Ordained  March  25th,  1831, 
Charles  C.  WellforDj 

r  Ordained  an  Elder  in  the  church 
*Jas.  H.  Fitzgerald,^  in  Cumberland,  installed  in  this 
t  church  October  9th,  1833. 
Richard  Sterling,  ") 
Edwin  Carter,       jOrdained  June  14th,  1841. 

John  M.  Herndon,  ■^ 

James  M.  Scott,     > Ordained  June  25th,  1854. 

John  L.  Marye,  Jr.  j 


FEMALE  ORPHAN  ASYLUM. 

The  Female  Orphan  Asylum  connected  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  designed  for  the  education 
and  maintenance  of  destitute  children,  was  founded  and 
chartered  by  the  Legislature  in  the  year  1832.  The 
present  substantial  and  commodious  building,  standing 
upon  the  site  of  the  old  Presbyterian  church,  was  com- 
pleted in  March,  1834,  and  the  first  pupil  was  received 
into  the  Institution  February  5th,  1835.  The  first  Board 
of  Managers  was  composed  of  the  following  ladies: 

Mrs.  E.  A.  Fitzgerald First  Directress, 

Miss  Catharine  Lomax Second  Directress, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Vass Treasurer, 

Mrs.  Marcissa  Whittemore Secretary, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  French^  Miss  Ellen  Lomax, 

Mrs.  Susan  Seddon,  Mrs.  Janet  H.  Wellford, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bernard;,  Mrs.  Caroline  Stanard, 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wilson^  Mrs.  Jane  Stevenson, 

Mrs.  Mary  B.  Wellford,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Wellford,^ 

Mrs.  A.  White,  Mrs.  Mary  Nelson. 

Since  February  5th,  1835,  when  the  first  pupil  was 
entered,  eighty-two  pupils  have  been  received  into  the 
Institution,  sixty-two  have  left,  and  twenty  remain  at  the 
present  time.  Most  of  the  girls  who  have  been  bound 
out  have  done  credit  to  themselves  and  to  the  Institution. 

Besides  its  admirable  house  and  site  the  Asylum  pos- 
sesses no  permanent  endowment  beyond  $7,800  invested 
in  coupon  bonds  of  the  Corporation  of  Fredericksburg, 


8 

which  was  secured  by  the  ahnost  unparalleled  self-denial 
and  energy  of  the  Christian  ladies  who  founded  the  In- 
stitution in  faith  and  love,  who  were  assisted  most  dis- 
interestedly by  the  Rev.  William  Chester,  D.D.,  General 
Agent  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Education.  The 
annual  expenditure  is  often  over  $1,500^  the  far  larger 
part  of  which  income  is  secured  by  the  efforts  of  the 
Managers  and  friends. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Managers  takes  place 
on  the  third  Monday  in  May,  when  the  friends  and  sub- 
scribers being  invited  to  attend,  the  girls  are  examined, 
and  the  interests  of  the  Institution  generally  discussed. 

The  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  Managers  is  held 
the  first  Thursday  in  every  month. 

The  Annual  Subscriptions  become  due,  and  col- 
lections are  made  in  behalf  of  the  Asylum  on  the  first 
of  January  of  each  year.  The  Asylum^  as  provided  in 
its  charter,  is  vinder  the  control  of  a  Board  of  Managers 
composed  of  sixteen  ladies,  elected  each  year  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  subscribers. 

The  present  Board  of  Managers  and  Officers  of  the 
Institution  are  as  follows: 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Hodge First  DirectresSy 

Mrs.  Charles  C.  Wellford Second  Directress, 

Mrs.  Seth  B.  French Secretary  and  Treasurer , 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wallace,       Mrs.  Elizabeth  Chewning, 
Miss  Fanny  Bernard,  Miss  Mary  Benson, 

Mrs.  Eliza  Hunt,  Mrs.  Catharine  Henry, 

Mrs.  John  S.  Wellford,         Mrs.  Samuel  G.  Daniel, 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Kelly,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Lacy, 

Mrs.  James  McDowell,         Mrs.  S.  H.  White. 

Miss  Marion  Bruce Matron. 

Miss  Jane  Cunningham Teacher, 

Mrs.  Stevens Housekeeper, 


CHURCH  NOTICES. 


TIMES  OF  SERVICE. 

Sunday  morning  service  at  It  o'clock  all  the  year. 

Sunday  night  service,  from  November  1st  to  February 
1st,  at  7  o'clock;  from  February  1st  to  May  1st,  at  7^ 
o'clock;  from  May  1st  to  September  1st,  at  8  o'clock; 
from  September  1st  to  November  1st,  at  7^  o'clock. 

Wednesday  night  lecture  at  the  same  hour  with  Sun- 
day night  service,  in  the  respective  seasons. 

Ladies'  Prayer  Meeting  on  Friday  afternoon  at  the 
Female  Orphan  Asylum. 

The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  second 
Sabbaths,  respectively,  of  February,  May,  August  and 
November. 

Sessional  Meeting  on  the  Friday  afternoon  before  each 
communion,  and  on  the  third  Friday  night  of  every 
month. 

TIMES  OF  REGULAR  COLLECTIONS. 

Domestic  Missions,  third  Sunday  in  February. 
Board  of  Publication,  third  Sunday  in  April. 
General  Fund,  third  Sunday  in  June. 
Board  of  Education,  third  Sunday  in  August. 
Church  Extension,  third  Sunday  in  October. 
Foreign  Missions,  third  Sunday  in  December. 


THE  PRESENT  OFFICERS 


OF   THE 


itmu'K  C|ik|,  ^nkmmhnm,  il>  |1»  tMO. 


PASTOR. 

REV.  A.  A.  HODGE. 

RULING-  ELDERS. 

LAYTON  Y.  ATKINS, 

CHARLES  C.  WELLFORD, 
EDWIN  CARTER, 

JOHN  M.  HERNDON, 
JAMES  M.  SCOTT, 
JOHN  L.  MARYE,  Jr. 

DEACONS. 

SAMUEL  G.  DANIEL, 
F.  PRESTON  WELLFORD, 


PRIVATE  MEMBERS. 


I8l0.  Alexander  Henderson Fredericksburg. 

1812.  Mrs.  James  French.. Fredericksburg, 

1814.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Stuart Fredericksburg 

1815.  Mrs.  Sarah  Stevens Fredericksburg. 

1815.  Mrs.  Ann  James Fredericksburg 

1815.  Miss  Hester  Lilly Fredericksburg 

1815.  Mrs.  Eliza  Maury. ........ Fredericksburg 

1815.  Miss  Judith  Towles Fredericksburg 

1817.  Miss  Ellen  Lomax Fredericksburg 

1818.  Miss  Catharine  Lomax. ........  Fredericksburg 

1818.  Mrs.  Janet  H.  Wellford Fredericksburg 

1818.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bernard Fredericksburg 

1818.  Mrs.  Frances  R.  McNeale Falmouth 

1823.  Mrs.  Mary  Nelson Fredericksburg 

1823.  Lay  ton  Y.  Atkins Fredericksburg 

1823.  Mrs.  Caroline  Crawford. Fredericksburg 

1823.  Miss  Balzora  Barnes Falmouth 

1823.  Mrs.  Snowey  Ames Fredericksburg 

1823.  Mrs.  Arabella  J.  Little Fredericksburg 

1827.  Miss  Fanny  Barnes Falmouth 

1827.  Mrs.  Mary  Proctor Fredericksburg 

1829.  James  Thompson Stafford 

1830.  Miss  Margaret  Barnes Falmouth 

1830.  Mrs   Mary  C.  Wellford. Fredericksburg 

1830.  Charles  C.  Wellford Fredericksburg 

B 


14 

1830.  Edwin  Carter Fredericksburg. 

1830.  Miss  Luny  P.  Turner Fredericksburg. 

1830.  George  W   Strother Stafford. 

1830.  Mrs.  Mary  C.  (Jarmichael Fredericksburg. 

1831 .  Mrs.  Susan  E.  White Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Miss  Betsy  Barnes Falmouth. 

1831.  Mrs.  Ehzabeth  B.  Wallace Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Maria  McDowell Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Edward  McDowell Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Hunt Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Margaret  Magrath Fredericksburg, 

1831.  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Buchanan Stafford. 

1831.  Miss  Frances  Carter Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Ehzabeth  P.  Carter Fredericksburg. 

1S31.  Mrs.  Jane  B.  Beale Fredericksburg. 

1831.  James  McGuire Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Susan  E.  Procter Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Wilham  K.  Smith. Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Abigail  H.  Smith Fredericksburg. 

1831.  John  H.  James Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Eleanor  A.  Chew Fredericksburg. 

1831.  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Scott Fredericksburg. 

1832.  Miss  Fanny  Bernard Fredericksburg. 

1832.  Miss  Mary  W.  Dangerfield Fredericksburg. 

1832.  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Thornburn  ....  .Fredericksburg. 

1833.  Argalns  E.  Samuel Fredericksburg. 

1833.  Mrs.  Elvira  M.  Hunnicutt .Fredericksburg. 

1833.  Miss  Icy  E.  Samuel Fredeiicksburg. 

1833.  Mrs.  Ann  E.  McGuire Fredericksburg. 

1833.  Miss  Mary  J.  Benson Fredericksburg. 

1834.  Mrs.  Julia  D.  L.  Taylor Fredericksburg. 

1838.  Mrs.  Sarah  Frazer Fredericksburg. 

1838.  James  M.  Scott Fredericksburg. 

1838.  Henry  D.  Genther Fredericksburg. 


15 

1841.  Mrs.  Ann  C.  Henry Fredericksburg. 

1842.  Samuel  G.  Daniel Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Chewning  . .  .Fredericksburg. 

1843.  William  A.  Litde Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Seddon Stafford. 

1843.  Miss  Mary  B    White Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Miss  Catharine  White Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Miss  EveUna  S.  Wellford Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Mrs.  Ann  Mercer  Forbes  v Fredericksburg. 

18^13.  John  S.  Wellford,  M.  D Fredericksburg. 

1843.  Miss  Mildred  Henderson Fredericksburg. 

1844.  Miss  Marion  W.  Bruce Fredericksburg. 

1844.  A.  Alexander  Little Fredericksburg. 

1844.  Samuel  S.  Howison Fredericksburg. 

1844.  Miss  Catharine  Rose Fredericksburg. 

1845.  Miss  Jane  White Fredericksburg. 

1846.  Mrs.  George  Aler Fredericksburg. 

1847.  F.  Preston  Wellford Fredericksburg. 

1848.  Mrs.  Sarah  Strother Stafford. 

1848.  Robert  Waring. Fredericksburg. 

1848.  Mrs.  Ann  L.  Howison Fredericksburg. 

1849.  Mrs.  Mary  V.  Adams Fredericksburg. 

1849.  Mrs.  A.  E.  Samuel Fredericksburg. 

1850.  Miss  Ann  Bruce Fredericksburg. 

1850.  John  L.  Marye,  Jr Fredericksburg. 

18.50.  John  Seddon Stafford. 

1851.  Benjamin  Sacrey Fredericksburg. 

1851.  Mrs.  Thomas  Manuel Fredericksburg. 

1852.  Miss  Helen  G.  Beale Fredericksburg. 

1852.  John  M.  Herndon Fredericksburg. 

1 852.  Miss  Ann  James  Carter Fredericksburg. 

1853.  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Rose Falmouth. 

1853.  John  Minor,  M.  D Stafford. 

1853.  Mrs.  John  Minor Stafford. 


16 

1853.  Mrs.  Ellen  Mercer  French Fredericksburg. 

1853.  Miss  Fanny  Ellen  Ames Fredericksburg. 

1853.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Fitzgerald..  .  .Fredericksburg. 
1553.  Mrs.  John  G.  Hurkarnp Fredericksburg, 

1854.  James  D.  Hunt Fredericksburg, 

1854.  Johnston  Carter Stafford, 

1854.  Mrs.  Susan  Carter Stafford, 

1854.  Miss  Caroline  Carter Stafford, 

1854.  Miss  Mary  A.  L.  Scott Stafford, 

1854.  Miss  Susan  M.  Ficklen Fredericksburg, 

1855.  W.  Hargrave  White Fredericksburg, 

1855.  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Howison Fredericksburg 

1856.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Nelson Stafford 

1856.  John  James  Chew  ....    Fredericksburg, 

1856.  Francis  T.  Forbes Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Ellen  Patton  Chew Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Ann  Gordon  Herndon Fredericksburg 

1856.  Mrs.  Lucy  C.  Brent Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Pamela  English Fredericksburg 

1856.  WiUiam  Henry .Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Lucy  Gray  Wellford  . Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Rebecca  D.  Ficklen Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Sally  A.  White Fredericksburg 

1856.  John  Alricks Spotsylvania 

1856.  Mrs.  John  Alricks Spotsylvania 

1856.  Thomas  Manuel Fredericksburg 

1856.  Thomas  B.  Lunsford Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Mary  E.  VYallace Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Jane  M.  Cunningham Fredericksburg 

1856.  Miss  Catharine  Y.  Wellford.  .  . .  .Fredericksburg 

1856.  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Dobyns Fredericksburg 

1856.  Charles  B.  Wellford .Fredericksburg 

1856,  Thomas  Wellford Fredericksburg 

1856.  James  M.  Scott,  Jr Fredericksburg 


17 

1856.  John  Z.  Scott Frederick  Nirg. 

1856.  Miss  Susan  N.  Well  ford Fredericksburg. 

1856.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  Hodge Fredericksburg. 

1857  Thomas  T     '^^r Fredericksburg. 

1857.  Miss  Mary  Maxwell  Hunt Fredericksburg. 

1857.  Moses  Morrison Spotsylvania. 

1857.  Mrs.  Mary  Morrison Spotsylvania. 

1857.  J.  Harrison  Kelly Fredericksburg. 

1857.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kelly Fredericksburg. 

1857.  John  Aler Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Lawrence  B.  Rose,  M.  D Falmouth. 

1858.  William  L.  Armstrong Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Armstrong Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Mahlon  Armstrong .o    ...     .na. 

1858.  Archibal  i  Ar.iistr.'ng Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Mrs.  Sarah  Armstrong Spotsylvania. 

18nS.  |V[iss  Martha  Armstrong Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Howson  S.  Wallace Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Miss  Julia  M.  Carter Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Miss  Mary  D.  Bowman Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Miss  Bella  Little Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Miss  Margaret  W.  Barnes Falmouth. 

1858.  James  A.  Worth  am Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Miss  Ann  V.  Kane Fredericksbur  •. 

1858.  Mrs.  Emmeline  M.  Wellford Fredericksburg. 

lho8.  J .  Horace  Lacy Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Mrs.  Betty  C.  Lacy Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Mrs.  Margaret  Hepburn Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Hepburn Spotsylvania. 

1858.  John  McMeens  Hepburn Spotsylvania. 

1858.  Mrs.  Betty  S.  Wallar'.e Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Mrs.  Lucy  P.  Dillard Spotsylvania. 

1858.  James  Walker Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Mi  .s  Saruu  i^.  Carter Stafford. 


B 


18 

1S5-8.  Miss  Mary  Annie  Scott Stafford 

1858.  Miss  Susan  Curtis Fredericksburg 

1859.  Mrs.  Ellen  Hunt Fredericksburg 

1859.  J.  Dickson  White Fredericksburg 

1859.  Mrs.  Maria  E.  Daniel Fredericksburg 

1859.  Mrs.  Amanda  S.  Morrison Spotsylvania 

1860.  John  F.  Ficklen Fredericksburg 

1860.  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Ficklen Fredericksburg 

1860.  Miss  Eliza  French  Chew Fredericksburg 

1860.  Miss  Eliza  Cary  Thornburn.  . .  .Fredericksburg 

1560.  Miss  Marion  Sterling  Beale Fredericksburg 

1860.  John  P.  Carter Fredericksburg 


COLORED  MEMBERS. 


1827.  Nancy  Beverley Fredericksburg. 

1858.  Annie  Duncan Falmouth. 


NON-RESIDENT  MEMBERS. 


1814.  Mi's.  Elizabeth  B.  Yass Prince  Edward. 

1815.  Mrs.  Mary  Herard Caroline. 

1823.  Mrs.  Jane  Timberlake Orange. 

1824.  Mrs.  Caroline  M.  Stanard New  York. 

1827.  Miss  Margaret  Harrow Washington. 

1827.  Mrs.  Eliza  Grigsby King  George. 

1827.  Miss  Ann  B.  Peake Orange. 

1833.  Miss  Jane  E.  Bailey Orange. 

1834.  Miss  Sarah  E.  Tally 

1835.  Mrs.  Maiy  Wright King  George. 

1835.  John  C.  Mercer Williamsburg. 

1835.  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Mercer Williamsburg. 

1841.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  E.  Alexander Fauquier. 

1843.  Mrs.  Fanny  L.  Wellford Culpeper. 

1843.  John  Glassell Texas. 

1848.  Mrs.  Mildred  A.  Anderson Culpeper. 

1848.  Miss  Amanda  Sorrell 

1856.  Miss  Cyria  Bennett 

1856.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  L.  Houston Brooklyn. 

1857.  Mrs.  Lavinia  Tschudi Charlottesville, 

1858.  Mrs.  Rosina  C.  Hulst Staunton. 


FORM  OF  COVENANT  ENGAGEMENT 

ASSUMED  BY  PARENTS  WHEN  THEY  PRESENT  THEIR  CEIL- 
DREN  TO  BE  SEALED  WITH  THE  SACRAMENT  OF  BAPTISM. 


The  Minister  says:  The  Great  Head  of  the  Church, 
with  infinite  condescension  adapting  the  order  of  his 
house  and  the  provisions  of  his  grace,  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  our  nature,  and  to  the  necessities  of  our  condi- 
tion, has  ordained  that  his  visible  Church  on  earth  shall 
<ionsist,  not  of  isolated  individuals,  but  of  families.  To 
you  and  to  your  seed  is  the  promise  given.  Every 
child,  therefore,  born  of  believing  parents,  is,  by  the  act 
of  God  in  his  birth,  made  a  member  of  the  visible 
Church  and  an  heir  of  its  blessings. 

Baptism,  as  the  rite  which  publicly  acknowledges  and 
seals  the  initiation  of  a  new  member  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  fold,  is  applied  to  infants,  not  to  make  them 
members,  but  to  acknowledge  and  seal  them  as  such. 
But  as  the  basis  of  Church  membership  and  the  guaran- 
tee of  Church  privileges  is  the  covenant  which  Christ 
has  graciously  made  with  his  people,  of  which  covenant 
baptism  is  the  visible  sign  and  faith  the  essential  condi- 
tion; and  as  the  basis  of  the  membership  of  infant  chil- 
dren, who  cannot  exercise  faith  in  their  own  persons, 
is  the  faith  of  their  parents. 

Therefore,  do  you,  the  parents  of  this  child  exercise 
faith  anew  in  the  blessed  Redeemer  for  yourselves  and 


24 

for  your  child,  and  accept  anew  his  precious  covenant 
as  offered  to  you,  and  as  embracing  it? 

Do  you  unreservedly  consecrate  this  your  child  to  the 
Lord's  service;  and  do  you,  as  its  divinely  appointed 
representatives,  bind  upon  it  all  of  the  obligations  of 
God's  covenant? 

Do  you,  in  humble  reliance  upon  the  grace  of  Christ, 
which  helpeth  all  our  infirmities,  promise  to  set  it  a  holy 
example,  and  to  give  it  the  nurture  pertaining  to  a  lamb 
of  the  flock;  to  pray  with  it,  and  for  it;  to  use  in  its  be- 
half all  scriptural  means,  and  to  invoke  upon  it  all  spi- 
ritual blessings,  and  to  teach  it  to  observe  all  things 
whatsoever  the  Lord  has  commanded? 

(Here  the  parents  shall  bow  assent.) 

The  Minister  shall  then  say:  May  the  blessing  of  the 
God  of  the  covenant,  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and 
Jacob,  your  fathers'  God,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost, 
rest  upon  you  and  upon  your  seed  forever:  Amen. 


FORM  OF  COVEJ(ANT 


USED  IX  THE  ADMISSION  OF  BAPTISED  MEMBERS  OF  THE 
CHURCH  TO  THE  PRIVILEGES  OF  FULL  MEMBERSHIP  AS 
COMMUNICANTS. 


The  Minister  shall  ask:  Do  you  recognise  as  binding 
upon  yourselves  personally  the  obligations  of  that  cove- 
nant which  God  formed  with  your  parents,  including 
you  as  their  seed,  the  seal  of  which.  Christian  baptism, 
they  caused  to  be  applied  to  you  in  your  infancy? 

(  The  candidate  shall  bow  assent  after  every  question. ) 

Do  you  heartily  believe,  and  do  you  unfeignedly  pro- 
fess that  faith  into  which  you  were  baptised,  viz:  That 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  are  the  one  living  and 
true  God;  that  the  Son  became  incarnate,  and  as  the 
God-man,  in  his  prophetic,  priestly  and  kingly  work,  is 
our  only  Saviour;  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  to  us  sinners 
the  only  Giver  of  life,  and  Sanctifyer;  and  that  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  are  the  in- 
spired word  of  God,  and  our  only  and  all-sufficient  rule 
of  faith  and  practice? 

Do  you  now,  sincerely  repenting  of  your  past  traitor- 
ous unfaithfulness,  and  in  humble  dependance  upon 
Divine  grace,  assume  voluntarily,  and  promise  to  fulfil 
all  the  obligations  which  from  your  birth  have  rested 


26r 

upon  you  in.  virtue  of  the  Baptismal  Covenant;  i.  e.  do 
yoU;  without  reserve  or  compromise,  consecrate  your 
wholeselves,  body,  soul  and  spirit  and  all  you  possess ^ 
to  the  service  of  God,  as  that  service  is  explicitly  pre- 
scribed in  the  Scriptures? 

Do  you,  to  the  entire  exclusion  of  eveiy  other  ground 
of  confidence,  gratefully  accept,  and  with  undoubting 
faith  rely  upon  that  grace  of  your  Heavenly  Father 
which  he  has  pledged  to  you  in  the  promise  of  the  co- 
venent;  i.  e.  do  you  joyfully  take  God  the  Father  to  be 
your  Father,  God  the  Son  to  be  your  meritorious  and 
victorious  Saviour,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  your 
Sanctifyer? 

Do  you  promise  subjection  in  the  Lord  to  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  of  this  Church,  and  to  seek  the  edifi- 
fication  of  all  its  members  ? 

The  Minister  then  says:  In  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  in  virtue  of  the  ministerial  authority 
vested  in  the  Session  of  this  Church,  I  declare  you  to 
be  members  in  full  communion,  with  a  right  to  all  the 
privileges  of  the  Church ,^  and  I  do  affectionately  com- 
mend you  to  the  love  and  watchful  care  of  all  the  breth- 
ren; and,  above  all,  I  invoke  upon  you  all  the  unfailing 
blessings  of  our  Father ''s  covenant,  the  love  of  the  Fa- 
ther, the  graceof  the  Son,,  and.  the  communion  of  tlie 
Holy  Ghost,. 


FORM  OF  COVEMNT 

USED  IX  THE  ADMISSION  OF  ADULT  PERSONS  FROM  THE 
WORLD  TO  MEMBERSHIP  IN  THE  CHURCH. 


Do  you  believe  in  the  only  living  and  true  God,  infi- 
nitely excellent  and  glorious:  and  that  there  is  a  trinity 
of  persons,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost^ 
an  this  divine  essence? 

Do  you  believe  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  as  the  word  of  God^  the  only  infallible  rule 
of  faith  and  practice? 

Do  you  believe  that  you  are  sinners,  and  as  such  de- 
serve the  wrath  of  God  forever? 

Do  you  believe  in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  sin- 
ners, the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man? 

Do  you  believe  in  the  necessity  of  the  renewing  and 
sanctifying  operartions  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and  that  you 
iunst  be  holy  in  order  to  be  happ}^? 

Do  you  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead-,  and 
in  a  general  judgment?     Do  you  believe  these  things? 

(Here  the  Candidate  shall  bow  asseyit.) 

And,  now,  do  you  take  this  God  the  Father,  to  be 
your  Father,  the  Son  to  be  your  Saviour,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  be  your  Sanctifyer;  and  to  this  glorious  Trinity, 
one  God,  do  you  heartily  and  wholly  give  yourselves 
^way,  and  all  you  have? 


28 

Do  you  receive  these  Scriptures  as  the  rule  of  your 
faith  and  practice? 

Do  you,  as  far  as  you  know  your  own  heart,  un- 
feignedly  repent  of  all  your  sins,  and  especially  your 
enmity  to  God,  and  your  rejection  of  the  Saviour  so 
long;  and  do  you  now  look  and  trust  for  salvation  to 
the  righteousness  of  Christ,  received  by  faith  in  Him? 

Do  you  sincerely  renounce  the  world  and  its  pleasures 
and  pursuits,  to  which  you  have  hitherto  belonged,  and 
do  you  now  desire,  by  receiving  the  holy  ordinance  of 
Baptism,  publicly  to  profess  your  faith  in  Christ,  and  to 
receive  the  badge  of  His  service,  and  the  seal  of  your 
covenant  to  be  the  Lord's,  faiI  the  rite  of  initiation  into 
his  earthly  kingdom? 

Do  you  engage  to  Avalk  with  God  in  the  ways  of  new 
obedience  and  strive  after  eminent  attainments  in  Chris- 
tian knowledge,  piety  and  usefulness? 

Do  you  promise  subjection  in  the  Lord  to  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  of  the  Church  to  which  you  belong, 
and  to  walk  in  brotherly  love  "with  its  members? 

(Here  again  the  Candidate  shall  how  assent.) 

The  Minister  then  says:  Having  been  received  by  the 
Session  of  this  Church  into  its  communion,  and  having 
now  avowed  your  faith  before  this  congregation,  I  do 
hereby  declare  you  to  be  members  of  the  visible  Church 
of  Christ,  with  a  right  to  all  its  privileges,  and  I  com- 
mend you  most  affectionately  to  the  Christian  confi- 
dence and  love  of  its  members.  May  you  never  forget 
that  the  vows  of  the  Lord  God  Almighty  are  upon  you. 


QUESTIONS. 


The  following  questions  are  affectionately  and  ear- 
nestly recommended  by  the  Session  to  the  frequent  and 
prayerful  perusal  of  each  member  of  this  Church. 

1.  Are  you  living  in  the  commission  of  any  known 
sin,  or  in  the  neglect  of  any  known  duty,  to  yourself, 
to  your  fellow-men,  or  to  God? 

2.  Are  you  in  the  practice  of  daily  secret  prayer,  and 
if  the  head  of  a  household,  of  daily  family  prayer  ? 

3.  Do  you,  daily,  with  a  prayerful  desire  to  grow  in 
Christian  knowledge,  not  only  read,  but  diligently  study 
the  Avord  of  God? 

4.  Do  you  make  it  a  matter  of  conscience,  except 
when  providentially  prevented,  faithfully  to  attend  the 
public  worship  of  God  on  the  Sabbath,  and  also,  the 
stated  meetings  of  the  Church  for  social  prayer  and  in- 
struction? 

5.  Do  you  daily  pray  for  your  Minister  and  the  ap- 
pointed officers  of  the  Church,  and  that  God  will  bless 
his  truth  to  the  sanctification,  or  to  the  conviction  and 
conversion  of  all  who  hear  it?  And  are  you  daily  doing 
what  you  can  to  bring  the  impenitent  to  the  cross  of 
Christ? 

6.  Do  you  sincerely  desire  and  pray  for  the  salvation 
o/  the  young,  and  to  this  end  are  you  doing  all  that  you 
can  in  Sabbath  schools^  in  Bible  classes,  and  by  Chris- 
tian influence? 

c* 


30 

7.  If  a  parent,  are  your  children  consecrated  to  God 
in  baptism,  and  nurtured  in  the  admonition  of  the  Lord? 
Do  you  see  that  they  are  taught  in  the  Sabbath  school 
or  the  Bible  class,  and  especially  at  home  by  catechetical 
and  Biblical  instruction?  Do  you  pray  with  and  for 
them,  and  teach  them  to  pray;  and  in  the  family  and  at 
all  times  seriously  strive,  both  by  precept  and  example, 
to  train  them  up  for  God's  service  and  for  heaven? 

8.  If  a  master  or  mistress,  do  you  sacredly  care  for 
the  spiritual  interests  of  your  servants,  furnishing  them 
with  that  knowledge  that  may  make  them  wise  unto 
salvation,  and  endeavoring  to  secure  their  attendance 
on  the  instructions  of  the  Sabbath  school  and  the  house 
of  God? 

9.  Do  you  sacredly  cherish  the  spirit  of  Christian 
love  and  fellowship  towards  all  the  disciples  of  Christ; 
and  especially  do  you,  so  far  as  possible,  visit  and  keep 
yourself  acquainted  with  the  members  of  your  own 
Church. 

10.  Do  you  cultivate  the  spirit  of  Christian  charity 
and  tenderness  towards  the  imperfections  and  failings 
of  every  member  of  the  Church — being  as  tender  of 
their  reputation  as  of  your  own,  keeping  your  tongue 
from  speaking  and  your  heart  from  thinking  evil  of 
such;  and  if  from  any  one  you  have  cause  for  oifence, 
do  you  at  once  follow  the  Gospel  rule,  to  go  and  tell  it 
to  himself  alone? 

11.  Do  you  make  it  a  solemn  matter  of  conscience, 
never  to  visit,  or  allow  your  children  to  visit,  any  place 
of  amusement  or  social  pleasure,  or  to  engage  in  any 
plan  or  business,  on  which  you  cannot,  in  all  sincerity, 
ask  God's  blessing? 

12.  Do  you  daily  and  habitually  remember  that  by 
solemn  covenant,  you  have  given  yourself  and  all  that 


31 

you  have  and  are  to  God,  and  that  you  have  solemnly 
vowed  to  keep  yourself  unspotted  from  the  world, 
making  Christ  your  exa.mple,  and  the  upbuilding  of  his 
kingdom  your  supreme  object?  And  in  the  spirit  of 
this  engagement  are  you  yourself  daily  growing  in 
grace,  and  by  your  property,  your  influence,  your 
prayers,  and  your  active  efforts,  are  you  doing  all  that 
you  can  for  the  interests  of  the  Church,  for  the  souls 
of  those  around  you,  and  for  the  salvation  of  a  world 
lying  in  wickedness  ? 

13.  Do  you  systematically,  and  to  the  extent  of  your 
ability,  give  to  those  associations  which  labor  to  extend 
the  kingdom  of  Christ?  and  do  you  regularly  read  the 
Missionary  Record  or  other  interesting  missionary  pub- 
lication? 

14.  Do  you  habitually  live  in  a  state  of  preparation 
for  death — keeping  your  house  and  your  heart  in  order, 
so  that  whenever  your  last  hour  shall  come,  it  may  find 
you  with  your  earthly  work  done,  and  your  spirit  fully 
prepared  for  Heaven  ? 


As  to  the  propriety  of  members  of  the  Church  taking 
part  in  the  fashionable  amusements  of  the  world,  as  in 
joining  in  promiscuous  dancing,  or  in  sanctioning  such 
engagements  by  their  presence,  the  Sessic  n  would  re- 
mind all  our  members  that  the  question  does  not  respect 
simply  the  morality  of  the  mere  physical  action  of  dan- 
cing, (fee,  but  the  consistency  of  fashionable  worldly 
amusements,  as  a  system,  with  all  of  their  necessarily 
related  circumstances  and  attendants,  with  the  true  life 
of  God  in  the  soul.     The  following  points  are  clear; 


32 

1st.  The  Christian  is  not  only  required  to  avoid  that 
which  is  per  se  immoral,  but  ^^  to  avoid  the  very  ap- 
pearance of  evil,"  to  come  out  from  the  world  ^^and  be 
separate,"  a  ^^ peculiar  people  zealous  of  good  works;" 
to  ^^walk  as  children  of  the  light,"  and  to  ^^be  not 
conformed  to  this  world;"  to  ^^set  their  affections  upon 
things  above,  and  not  on  things  on  the  earth."  The 
Christian  is  <^^not  his  own,"  but  is  ^^bought  with  a 
price,  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,"  and  is  a  ^^  temple 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  whereby  he  is  ^^ sealed  unto  the 
day  of  redemption;"  his  ^^life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God."  2d.  The  entire  system  of  fashionable  life,  of 
which  dancing  is  an  inseparable  part,  is,  beyond  all 
question,  inconsistent  with  the  ^^joys  of  God's  salva- 
tion," and  a  life  of  intimate  communion  with  the  Sa- 
viour through  his  Holy  Spirit  who  dwells  in  us.  Every 
truly  spiritual  Christian  feels  it  to  be  so.  No  Church, 
when  in  a  state  of  genuine  revival  ever  thus  admitted 
the  embrace  of  the  world.  It  is  notorious  that  true  spi- 
rited religion  has  never  flourished  in  any  family,  con- 
gregation or  denomination  where  such  contamination 
prevailed.  The  highest  and  most  venerable  authorities 
in  all  our  evangelical  churches  have  unanimously  raised 
their  voices  in  condemnation  and  warning.  The  Holy 
Spirit,  whom  our  blessed  Saviour  has  promised  to  guide 
his  people  into  fll  truth,  has  surely  decided  against  it  in 
their  universal  disapproval.  3d.  The  world,  also,  se- 
cretly entertains  the  same  judgment,  and  her  children 
never  much  respect  the  spirituality,  nor  feel  the  influ- 
ence of  a  professed  child  of  God,  who  acts  altogether 
like  one  of  themselves,  even  to  the  length  of  their  most 
thoughtless  follies. 

4th.  Our  General  Assembly,  the  highest  authority  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  A.  D.  1818,  has  condemned 


33 

the  practice,  and  warned  all  under  her  charge  of  the 
danger  of  being  deceived  by  the  plausible  beginnings 
of  evil,  lest  they  afterwards  be  swept  away  whither  they 
know  not.  Synods  and  Presbyteries  have  since  again 
and  again  repeated  this  warning.  This,  therefore,  is 
the  established  common  law  of  our  Church,  and  even 
if  our  members  are  unfortunately  so  insensible  as  not 
to  see  the  evil  of  this  practice  themselves,  they  owe  it 
to  their  own  characters  and  to  their  brethren  in  the  Lord, 
to  the  claims  of  Christian  love  and  natural  courtesy,  not 
to  violate  the  law  and  disturb  the  peace  of  their  Church, 
nor  to  oifend  the  consciences  of  their  brethren.  5th.  If 
it  be  conceded  that  it  is  wrong  for  the  Christian  to  dance, 
it  follows  equally  that  it  is  for  the  same  reason,  precisely 
the  same  wrong  either  to  attend  themselves  balls  and 
public  places  of  worldly  amusement,  or  to  permit  the 
younger  members  of  their  families  to  attend  them — for 
if  the  whole  system  is  for  any  reason  wrong,  then  is  it 
inconsistent  for  the  Christian  in  any  degree  to  counte- 
nance it,  either  directly  or  indirectly;  and,  above  all,  to 
mingle  with  and  imbibe  its  spirit.  6th.  If  it  be  con- 
ceded that  it  is  for  any  reason  whatever  wrong  for  the 
professed  Christian  to  dance,  it  follows  equally  that  it  is 
for  the  same  reason  wrong  for  any  one  to  dance — be- 
cause, (1.)  Every  man,  one  just  as  much  as  another,  is 
bound  by  every  sacred  right,  known  to  earth  or  heaven, 
to  be  a  Christian,  and  to  act  with  perfect  consistency  as 
such.  It  is  both  foolish  and  wicked  to  suppose  that  the 
disregard  of  one  duty  can  in  any  degree  lessen  the  sin 
of  the  neglect  of  another.  (2.)  The  majority  of  non- 
communicants  who  will  read  this  page  are  baptised  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  and,  therefore,  bound  by  the  special 
covenant  of  their  Lord  and  Saviour,  to  live  and  walk 
in  all  things  as  becometh  children  of  God.     Their  con- 


34 


temptuoiis  neglect  of  the  baptismal  covenant  will  be  but 
a  poor  excuse  for  them  to  plead  in  extenuation  of  their 
madness  in  grieving  away  the  Holy  Spirit. 


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